I know He did it all for me. I know He did this to be the sacrifice to atone for my sins. I know that Jesus ascended back to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. I know that, in God’s perfect timing, Jesus will come back to Earth to bring an end to this Earth as we know it. I know that all those who have believed in Jesus and what He did will be brought out of the sleep of death to live for all of eternity with God. I know all this. I am assured all this is true. I know it to be true. I have full confidence in the blood of Jesus
In this world today it is hard to find anything in which I feel I can have certain confidence in. I used to have confidence in manufactured products. Things used to be made to last—not so much anymore. There was a time when I had confidence in cars—or at least I had confidence in my ability to fix a car when it broke down. These days a person needs to be an electrical engineer and a computer engineer to work on a car. I had the same alarm clock for years and years—Big Ben. It always worked, no matter what. It never failed me. I simply had to remember to wind it. I have no faith in my alarm clock now. It is too high tech. It is too easy for me to make errors in programming and the electricity may not stay on all night.
I used to have confidence in devices designed to produce the written word, like the typewriter. I learned to type on a manual Underwood. I could always produce a typed document, regardless the condition of the atmosphere. I have very little confidence in my computer now—it always lets me down at the very moment I need it the most, and even if it is working well, the printer might not, or the network or the internet may fail. I just have very little faith in anything produced by human hands these days.
I love America. I still love America enough to lay down my life for her—right this moment if need be. I have less and less assurance in this country. I am less and less assured that America will stand until that last day. That makes me so sad. I love America. I still love America, even if I do not feel assured in her. When I was a young man I always felt like I could have confidence in the leaders of our country—not so much anymore. When I was a young man I always felt I could have confidence in bosses—not so much anymore.
When I was a younger man I had full confidence in banks—I trust them not today. I have even thought about stuffing all my money in a mattress, for I have little confidence in my bank. When I was a younger man I always looked at pastors and preachers with full faith and confidence. Maybe I have just seen too much. I know that when I was younger I saw the world much differently than I see it now. I guess I am becoming cynical in my old age.
I used to feel assured about my own physical abilities. As I am getting older I find I have less and less confidence in myself. It is probably just that I am getting older. I have little confidence in myself now. I continually disappoint myself.
What then can I have confidence in? In what can I find assurance? Certainly not in humankind, for humans are imperfect and thus may let us down—certainly not in anything made by human hands, for everything made from earthly material will wear out or rust or decay or crumble and fall—certainly not in human institutions, for they are run by humans beings. In what, then, can we have full assurance? Is it only what we can touch and hold and see? In what can we have faith? In what can we have full assurance?
I have assurance the Sun will rise, even though the clouds may obscure my view of it. It has risen every day of my life. Even on the darkest, longest night, when I cannot see the Sun, I am assured the Sun will rise at its appointed time. It has never let me down. You can set your clock by its rising. I know, from this book, that even the Sun will one day be extinguished.
In Hebrews 11:1, the writer tells us, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV)
The Holy Bible, is the only written word in which I am totally confident. It is under attack. What it stands for is under attack. No matter what other people say about it, I have assurance that it is true. Oh, there are many things in it that I do not, as yet, understand. My understanding comes little by little as I study more and more. But, even if I do not understand all of it, I trust in it. I have faith in it, even though I cannot prove every word of it. The Bible is the story of my God, the one and only true God. I believe, even though I have not seen.
I have assurance that there is one true God who created all things. I have assurance that Yahweh exists, even though I cannot prove He exists. I have assurance that God loves me, even though I cannot prove to you that He loves me. Even when life is at its most difficult, I know my God loves me. In God I have assurance, even though I cannot prove Him.
I believe in the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, via Heaven. In Him I have assurance, even though I cannot prove Him. Jesus said, “For I have come down from Heaven, not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise Him up that last day.” John 6:38-40 (NIV)
I have assurance the Son of God did rise from the dead. He has risen! He has risen indeed! Even on the darkest, longest night, I am assured that Jesus the Christ, the Son of God has risen from the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit of God. In Him I have assurance, even though I cannot prove Him. He lives in me, even though I cannot show Him to you.
I have assurance that the Holy Spirit of God exists inside of me. I know He speaks to me in my heart of hearts, even though I cannot prove to you that He speaks to me.
I have assurance that one day we will all stand before the God of all to be judged. I know I will be found worthy to enter into His eternal Heaven. I will not have earned the right to stand worthy before Him. I will not be worthy to stand in His Holy Presence, and yet I know there I will stand. I know that the blood Jesus shed on that cross that day will wash me clean and make me worthy to enter those great gates. I know because of Jesus I will be found worthy and I will be redeemed.
Even old Job knew. Even with all that had happened to him he said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the Earth, and after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I — and not another.” Job 19:25-27 (NIV)
Jesus Himself said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26 (NIV)
And, dear friends, in that I am confident. Amen.
Pastor Stanley Mikles,
Narrows Community Church